Emergency repair for electricity generating systems



A ril 10, 1962 w. c. SCHAIBLE 3,029,377

EMERGENCY REPAIR FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATING SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 6, 1959 A A A United States This invention relates to electric current generating systems, particularly those embodying a generator and a voltage regulator in circuit therewith, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an emergency repair device which may be effectively used when the voltage regulator becomes defective, so that the system may be satisfactorily operated until such time as a more permanent repair can be made.

As such, the invention is particularly well adapted for use in current generating systems of automobiles, airplanes, boats, and the like, although it is to be understood that the usefulness of the invention is by no means limited to these examples and that the same has utility in the generator and voltage regulator environment in general.

To facilitate voltage control, a voltage regulator is usually provided with a resistance element which is in circuit with the generator and is also provided With a set of contact points which bridge the resistance element so I as to afford alternate paths for current through the re sistance element or directly through the points, depending on Whether the points are open or closed. After a period of use, the contact points of the regulator become worn,

pitted, oxidized or otherwise defective, with the result that l the voltage regulator becomes either highly inefficient or wholly inoperative. Under such circumstances it is not always possible to promptly replace the regulator by a new one, nor is it possible in many instances to repair the same inasmuch as such repair requires highly skilled labor without which the electrical system as a whole could possibly sustain serious damage.

The present invention avoids the ditficulties above outlined by the provision of emergency repair means whereby defective points of the voltage regulator may be electrically by-passed to permit satisfactory function of the system until a permanent repair can be effected, such repair means being extremely simple both in structure and in use, so that the same may be installed Without difficulty even by persons having no special skill in such matters and employing no tools whatever for the emergency repair job.

Other objects and features of the invention may become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an electric current generating system, showing the invention in association therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the emergency repair device per se; and

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the invention in association with a generating system having a circuit somewhat different from that illustrated in FIG- URE 1. 7

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, the reference numeral 19 designates a shunt-type generator of a conventional character, such as for example, a Delco-Remy or an Auto-Lite generator, both of which are well known and widely used in the art. The generator 10 has an armature terminal 11 and a field terminal 12 in circuit with the respective armature and field windings thereof and the electrical output of the generator passes through a arent G voltage regulator indicated generally at 13 to a load such as a battery 14 having a ground 15 The voltage regulator 13 is also of a conventional type used with generators of the type shown at 10, the voltage regulator including a resistance element 16 having a ground 17 and being in circuit with the field terminal 12 of the generator, as shown. A set of contact points 18 are provided in bridging relation with the resistance element 16, that is, in parallel with the resistance element between the field terminal 12 and the ground of the points indicated at 19. By this arrangement alternate paths for current are provided through the resistance element or directly through the points to the ground, depending on Whether the points are open or closed.

The housing of the voltage regulator also accommodates a current regulator 20 and a cut-out relay 21, but,

neither of these are involved in the practice of the invention and accordingly, require no further description. For simplicity of illustration, only the parts with which the invention is concerned have been shown by full lines in the drawing, while the relatively unrelated parts are shown by dotted lines.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the voltage regulator points 18 become worn, pitted, oxidized or otherwise defective, the operation of the regulator and of the entire system is impaired so that it is either partially or wholly ineffective. As already stated, in such instances it is not always possible to provide for a replacement or skilled repair of the regulator when the defect occurs, and a repair of the regulator by unskilled hands can easily result in a serious damage of the system as a whole.

The present invention permits an emergency repair to be made without any tools and with marked expediency even by unskilled persons, as will be presently apparent.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a simple jumper conductor 22 having a resistor 23 embodied therein, and when the points 18 of the regulator 13 become defective, one end of the jumper conductor is connected to the field terminal 12 while its other end is simply connected to any suitable ground, indicated at 24. When these simple connections are made, the jumper conductor provides an electrical by-pass for the defective points 1% and the system may be operated quite satisfactorily until such time as a permanent repair can be made. It is to be noted that while a jumper conductor without a resistor (such as 23) would satisfactorily bridge or bypass the points,the flow ofcurrent through such a conductor would be excessive and the resistance element 16 would not have an opportunity to come into play in regulating the voltage. However, with the resistor 23 present, the flow of current through the jumper conductor is maintained within reasonable limits and, with the load 14 in the system, a reasonable amount of voltage regulation will be effected even when the system is operating on the emergency basis.

A practical adaptation of the emergency repair device in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 2, wherein it will be apparent that the jumper conductor 22 is preferably in the form of two flexible wires 22a and 221) which are connected to the respecive opposite ends of the resistor 23 and are provided at their free ends with quick-acting terminals, that is, quickly attachable and detachable terminals, such as suitable conventional terminal clamps 25., When the invention is placed in use, one of these clamps 25' is connected to any suitable ground and the other is connected to the field terminal 12 or, if preferred, to the terminal 26 of the voltage regulator which is in circuit with the terminal 12.

For proper operation, the resistance of the resistor 23 is lesser than that of the resistance element 16 in order to induce a path of current through the jumper conductor 22 rather than through the element 16.

apaaaw' 3 FIGURE 3 illustrates a current generating system having a somewhat diflerent circuit from that shown in FIG- URE 1, such as for example is used with a Ford generator Ida and associated voltagevregulator 13a. The

electrical connections in the generator 1th; are such as to require the resistance element16a and contact points 18a of the regulator 13a to be connected in parallel with the armature and field terminals 130:, 12a of the generator. Accordingly, when the invention is to be used in a system of this type, the ends of the jumper conductor 22 are connected to the terminals 11a, 12a, so as to by-pass the points 18a with the same result as already described in connection with FIGURE 1. if preferred, the jumper conductor may be connected to the terminals 27, 28 of the regulator which are in circuit with the respective terminals 11a, 2a, as will be clearly apparent.

It is to be particularly noted that by virtue of the provision of the quick-acting terminal clamps 25 on the jumper conductor 22, the device may be quickly and easily installed without the use of any tools whatever and by persons of even extremely limited skill by the use of few simple instructions as to where the clamps 25 are to be applied, in case of emergency, in a particular current generating' system.

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and vari ous modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. For use in an electric current generating system 'including a generator and a voltage regulator having a resistance element in circuit with said generator and a set of contact points bridging said resistance element whereby to provide alternate paths for current through the resistance element and directly through said points when the points are respectively open and closed: emergency repair means usable when said contact points are defective, said repair means comprising a jumper conductor adapted to be connectedin parallel with said points whereby to by-pass the same, and a resistor provided in said jumper conductor, the resistance of said resistor being lesser than that of said resistance element.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said jumper conductor is connectable in parallel with said points exteriorly of said voltage regulator.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said jumper conductor comprises two flexible wires connected to the respective Opposite ends of said resistor, and quick-acting terminals provided at the free ends of said wires.

points whereby to by-pass the same, and a resistor provided in said jumper conductor, the resistance of said resistor being lesser than that of said resistance element.

5; In an electric current generating system, the com hination of a generator having armature and field terminals, the armature terminal of said generator being in circuit with a load having a ground, a voltage regulator having a resistance element in circuit with the field terminal of the generator and wtih the ground and also having, a set of contact points bridging said resistance element whereby to provide alternate paths for current I through the resistance element and directly through said points to the ground when the points are respectively open and closed, and emergency repair means lay-passing said points when the latter are defective, said repair means comprising'a jumper conductor having one end thereof connected to the ground and its other end in circuit with said field terminal, and a resistor provided in said jumper conductor, the resistance of said resistor being lesser than that of said resistance element.

6.. In an electric current generating system, the combination of a generator having armature and field terminals, the armature terminal of said generator being in circuit with a load, a voltage regulator havinga resistance element connected in parallel with said armature and I field terminals and also having a set of contact points bridging said resistance element whereby to provide alternate paths for current through the resistance element and directly through the points when the points are respectively open and closed, and emergency repair means bypassing said points when the latter are defective, said repair means comprising a jumper conductor having one end thereof in circuit with the field terminal and its other end in circuit with the armature terminal of said generator, and a resistor provided with said jumper conductor, the resistance of said resistor being lesser than that of 45 said resistance element.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,089,343 Naylor Mar. 3, 1914 2,136,494 Edwards Nov. 15, 938 2,218,109 Hochstetter Oct. 15, 1940 

